Plans to close Ae Primary and two other rural schools are set to be scrapped.

Education officials are now recommending the council abandons the controversial moves.

The new proposal has yet to be ratified by councillors at the end of the month but the U-turn has been described as “wonderful” news by members of the community.

If the decision is rubber-stamped, no new bid to shut the schools can be made for five years.

Ae Community Council secretary John Magill said yesterday local people are “delighted”.

He added: “We are really looking forward to working with the council over the next five years to raise the profile of the school and build up numbers. We’re really positive about the future of the school now.”